Dream Analog
–
It’s coming on
waking up to myself
getting used to the feeling
of everyone else
Now we have wings to fly
Over the horizon
It’s a sudden feeling
change in perspective
a wall of reflective surfaces
going nowhere
I take myself back from that kind of lack
Now we can tell a different story
Never be lost
never caught, never lost
in someone else’s story
Over the horizon
Over the horizon
Over the horizon
It’s coming on
waking up to myself
© Teri Hitt All Rights Reserved. [ASCAP]
Tom Haugen
A record largely influenced by some of the most notable songwriters of the ’70s, Grace Gravity’s Dream Analog was captured live in a small home studio and recorded, mixed, and mastered analog. Later on, overdubs of horns, keys, percussion, and backing vocals were added with much meticulousness, giving the album a very warm, crisp feeling.
The cautious listen leads with the soft acoustic strumming and sweet vocals from Teri Hitt on “It’s Coming On,” which lays the foundation for the remainder of the album. “Go Ahead And Shine” then follows with a soothing, soft-rock quality as Hitt lets her strong pipes shine. “In The Center” continues with harmonizing backing vocals highlighting the folk rock approach.
The middle of the record offers some of the best tunes, including the reflective “The Long Road,” where brass and piano work together in soulful ways, while “Who U R” picks up the pace with a punchy rock ‘n’ roll feel. “Something New Can Grow,” a standout track, then finds a pretty place to reside as cosmic moments mix with the slow burning introspection.
Deeper in the listen, “Sunny Side Of The Road” moves with light melodies and a breezy formula that’s as timeless as it is memorable, and “Mother Earth” finishes out the listen with some of Hitt’s best vocals, as a dreamy quality enters the very sophisticated landscape.
A record that definitely brings us back to simpler times, Dream Analog and Grace Gravity herself reminds us of all the things we find appealing about Joni Mitchell, Linda Ronstadt, or Heart.
During these hectic, often heated times, an album like Dream Analog is the perfect antidote to the chaos with its serene, almost meditative quality that would have been as relevant in the ’60s as it likely will be 20 years from now.
180 Gram Vinyl—As luck would have it we found a time machine and over the next year created an Analog Recording Studio in our home. All my previous albums were recorded digitally.When I finally heard my voice played back on tape for the first time, I got tears in my eyes. It was significantly better. I had never heard my voice recorded in a way that could reflect it back so thoroughly. Until then I didn’t know what was missing in the sound. I knew I was on the right track.
Recorded Analog + Mixed Analog + Mastered Analog for 180 Gram Vinyl
Analog recording allows the messages in the songs to be more completely and clearly delivered. It has natural harmonic overtones and a warm tonal resonance. This resonance is missing in digital recordings as the recording process is to take samples and string them together. The space in-between the samples is missing. This creates square waves instead of sine waves leaving out dimensions you might want to feel and know about.
Over the next two years we carefully recorded these beautiful songs to analog tape.
The final lead vocals, acoustic guitar, bass, and drums were recorded live on a 1″ 16 track tape machine using tube and solid state gear. As we recorded live we were able to deeply connect as we played and magic happened. We later added overdubs of keyboard, horns, percussion, and background vocals.
This album is recorded at A=432 Hz tuning instead of the “standard” A=440 Hz. 432 Hz tuning is known as Pythagorean tuning. It is based on perfect 5th ratios. This tuning is in harmony with Nature. To me it feels better.
In September 2019 we headed to Northern California to mix at Laughing Tiger Studio. The following month, mastering legend Bernie Grundman completed the process by adding his mystical final touches.
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Recorded, Produced and Engineered by Brian D. Hardin.
Mastered for Vinyl by Bernie Grundman.
CD and Cassette Mastered by Brian D. Hardin.
Teri Hitt – vocals, acoustic guitar
June Kato – bass
James Whelan – hammond, piano, rhodes
Brian David Hardin – drums, percussion, cloud sounds
Rebecca Stout – background vocals
James – background vocals
+ Mike Cordone and Jesse McGinty – horns, sax, flute
• Matt Crocco – additional piano
** Paula Montondo – additional drums on Whatcha Gonna Do?
Side 1
1 It’s Coming On 2:23
2 Go Ahead and Shine 2:57
3 In The Center 4:12
4 Song of the Satellite+ 2:56
5 Whatcha Gonna Do?** 3:06
6 The Long Road+ 3:06
Side 2
1 Who U R 3:11
2 Nothing To Break That Fall+• 2:46
3 Something New Can Grow 3:36
4 Real Clouds 2:44
5 Sunny Side of the Road 3:50
6 Keep it Together+ 3:23
7 Mother Earth 2:39
Produced, Engineered and Mixed by Brian David Hardin.
Recorded at Thunderbird Studios in Culver City.
Mixed on a SSL console down to 1/2” tape at Laughing Tiger Studio in San Rafael, CA.
Mastered by Bernie Grundman and Joe Bozzi in Hollywood, CA.
All songs ©2020 Teri Hitt except **©Teri Hitt, June Kato, and Paula Montondo. All Rights Reserved. Chaldea Music [ASCAP]
Made with LOVE in the USA.
Photos: Brian David Hardin | Art/Design: Teri Hitt
Cover photo is the General Sherman Tree in Sequoias, CA.
(*Psst…She changed her name to Mother Tree)
Available on HQ-180 gram Vinyl, CD and Cassette April 2020.
Singles out now on Spotify.
We had a great time mixing at Laughing Tiger Studios in San Rafael, CA just North of San Francisco.
Producer, Brian D. Hardin, was in his element mixing on a SSL console. It was great to experience it. The resulting sound, to me, is so much more alive than anything created in the box (computer). The sonic messages come through loud and clear.
On our way there we went to the Sequoias to hug some trees and feel their quiet strength. The simple beauty of nature engulfs you and gently reminds you that there is so so much more to life than striving for this or that. Reality is more than meets the eye. We must FEEL to access the higher realms.
The biggest Sequoia there is named General Sherman but we agreed to call it Mother Tree instead. While there we shot video for one of the songs on the album, Mother Earth.
We also shot video for another song, In The Center, at a river there. 
The river was a powerful presence that flowed all around me as I stood on some rocks. There were tons of dragonflies about. The sound of rushing water is good for the soul. I was happy I did not fall in! Ha ha ha 🙂
The album was recorded analog and now is mixed analog. Soon to be mastered for vinyl (and CDs and maybe cassettes. Ya I said cassettes people!…. ha ha ha). Dream Analog will be released April 2020.
My hope is that it will feed you and inspire you to connect within and grow, to create and share your special gifts with the world. We need you. Blessings to you all.
Sequoias photos by Brian D. Hardin. Studio shot by Erin Tadena.
Released from the keeper on his negative throne
It was never what your thoughts were thinking
cause they weren’t your own.
You gotta free yourself
you gotta be yourself
you gotta roll off the shackles and
go ahead and shine
roll off the shackles and shine
Do you ever dream of running away
from the wars and the wires and the endless parade?
In your darkest moment
you find you aren’t afraid
You just changed and
nothings gonna be the same
You’ve got a reason to believe
© Teri Hitt – All Rights Reserved.
Move beyond being blown away by the gifts inside you. Tune in and float on down the river … get used to being the bigger you. You’ve been there all along. Settle into the stillness.
Photos: Susan Weingartner
Poster Design: soul secret service